SAFER - Support & Awareness for Female fans in European football through Research, prevention, and remedy

According to the definition of the European Commission, gender-based violence is “violence directed against a person because of that person's gender or violence that affects persons of a particular gender disproportionately.” It predominately impacts women and girls, as well as sexual and gender minority groups. The world of football is not an exception. Through research and awareness-raising, SAFER aims to establish prevention and remedy mechanisms for football fans and other attendees affected by gender-based violence in football stadia and in the context of match-related activities. The project will achieve this aim by: (i) researching the extent of gender-based violence within football stadia and match-related activities; (ii) identifying and promoting existing good practice and developing recommendations for the prevention of gender-based violence; and (iii) producing a remedy policy and associated guidelines to support the survivors of gender-based violence. SAFER will involve a diverse range of expert and affected stakeholders from across Europe—local, national, and transnational—including national associations, clubs, public authorities, and fans’ groups. Local football competitions and mega sporting events (UEFA EURO 2024) will equally contribute and profit from the findings of the project. SAFER will also rely on input from various leading figures in the world of sports and human rights, covering a broad range of topics, including athlete’s rights, child safeguarding, survivors of gender-based violence in sports, disability rights, and LGBT+ inclusion. The findings of the project will be transferable through the football sector and beyond, allowing the development of remedy mechanisms across spectator sports and mega sporting events.